Omaha daily bee., 1887-02-25
THE INDIANA TROUBLE.
Smith Refuses to Let Robertson Pre-
side Over the Senate.

Smith Refuses to Let Robertson Pre-
side Over the Senate.
INDIANAPoLIs, Feb. "a. The senate cham
Der was carefully guarded this morning by a
force of doorkecpers and even the members
of the body had difficulty in etfecting an en-
trance. There was a tremendous crowd in
the lobbies. At Q O'Clock Greene Smith
raped the senate to order, whereupon Colo
mel Henderson, who had been admitted to
the floor, started toward the chair. He was
met OH the steps by the assistant doorkeeper,
who told him he could not come up The col
onel replied that he was the presiding officer
OF the senate and would take his seat and
stepped forward. when the doorkeeper repelled
him to the foot of the stairs. Thereupon he
stood in front of the clerks desk and stated
that he had been elected lieutenant governor
of the state and by the constitution was pre-
siding officer of the senate and he demanded
his seat. The point Of order was raised that
only members of the senate could take up the
time of the body, which Smith sustained and
called upon the doorkeaeper to remove him
from the chamber. The doorkeeper ap-
preached Robertson and they walked out to
the main door. The crowd saw Robertson
come out and there was great excitement
He mounted the steps and made speech
recitlng what had transpired in the chamber
and cautioned the people not to do anything
hst Whd nse the peace or dignity OF
in cooler moments. This ended the trouble
and Robertson passed out into the hall of the
honse, which body had not yet met. During
senators attempted to enter and had difficulty.
Senator Johnson, Of Wayne denounced the
doorkeepers and during the melee number
Of persons from the inside approached the
put up his hands. Johnson interpreted
BACK as and n struck 'Rs the So Senator "si in 1 the
face. Senator, Demott was ordered to his
down and threw him TO the floor The re-
publican senators started to follow Robert
son from the chamber, but We're not per.
mitted to leave. They sat quietly in the rear
ceedngs. When the house was called to
| order several bills were called up and one
passed. The speaker announced that when
the Lieutenant governor governor was presiding
stitution, the fact of the passage
| would be communicated to that body.
| This was received with great applause. He
| instructed the doorkeeper not to admit the
1 secretary OF the senate or such to the hall
| with the design OF presenting any communl-
| cation.
After the expulsion of Robertson the dem
| Ocrats of the senate took up the regular order
bers refused to answer the roll calls and de-
clined to in any way give countenance to the
| proceedings Many efforts were made to in
| duce them to commit themselves, but all re-
suited in failure. and their names were
ordered to be placed on record as present but
not voting. Before adjournment a resolu
tion was passed empowering the doorkeepeI
| to employ all the force necessary to preserve
peace in the chamber. A great deal of i'm
| portant legislation is now pending, no pro
| vision having yet been made for the expenses
| of the state benevolent institutions and the
| general fGnd of the state treasury is eX
| hausted. The session expires by Limitation
| on the Tth of March.